This essentially means to use new frameworks, and new techniques to accomplish mobile-first theme development.

Bootstrap v4 comes with a mobile-first approach. This framework has also reworked itself from the ground up to be mobile-first and modern. One of Bootstrap v4’s best features is Flexbox.

Not only this, but Web developers now use their devices during Theme development. It’s called Chrome Remote Debugging.

This ties very nicely in line with the build tools like Gulp from Node.js. So that it is imperative that you use a mobile device during theme development, and check to make sure mobile devices are displayed properly before checking on your desktop.

What this implies is that it is okay to use JavaScript to build webpages, to further enhance the user experience.

But we must still keep into consideration about Website Speed, and User Experience.

That means we must make sure our scripts do not slow down websites, or else it makes the WordPress theme clunky, and effectively creates a bad website. SEO will be negatively affected because Google will notice users click the back button to return to their search results.

Therefore JavaScript in Theme development must be placed in wp_enqueue_script(), so that they will load properly by caching plugins.

Windows comes packed with how-to guides, and support for apps/programs normally starts with Windows-compatibility before anything else.

As far as WordPress web development goes for Windows, you can have a look at the development environment app (and completely free), Laragon (get rid of WAMP now!).

And for WordPress-exclusive web development you can have a look at the completely-free development environment app, Local by Flywheel for Windows.

Mac

The Mac is still a popular tool for web development (especially since you see them across web development seminars and talks!)

Again, the MacOS is known for its reliability. It is a rare occurrence for something to go wrong with them (usually 1 in every 5 years), but overall you will find its aesthetics beats that of Windows.

But again let’s get out of the O.S. wars and take this to the Cloud!

The Cloud! (new)

Through the popularity of web apps, comes the cloud development environment.

It’s come into fruition due to the fact that OS updates, antics, and quirks become such a hassle that it ultimately distracts us from web development.

Not only that, but you have the ability to collaborate with other web developers on the same environment!

Typically a container is provisioned e.g. a new WordPress app installation, and you can begin building your WordPress theme from there.

There are great cloud development environments.

You can have a look at Amazon Cloud9 and Koding to have a glimpse of this future path of web development environment and IDE all of which are in the cloud.

The Verdict on the O.S. Wars

Now in 2018 it doesn’t really matter what operating system you use.

In fact, you can even work with your WordPress website via the cloud!

Summary of WordPress Development in 2018

WordPress web development is ever closer to the user now in 2018.

We are seeing that UX is an important weighing factor to what new workflows and new techniques WordPress developers now have.

The prominence of JavaScript on the web has led WordPress theme development to including JavaScript to enhance the User Experience. Remember: graceful degradation, and progressive enhancement.

WordPress theme development frameworks include the new Bootstrap 4, which is built with a mobile-first approach and modern workflows like SCSS and Gulp.

This mobile-first approach ties along with tipping of mobile users past the 50% mark of internet users globally, therefore WordPress theme development builds with responsiveness as standard, now with a mobile-first approach.

Web Developers are made agnostic between operating systems, as Windows and Mac battle one another for the same feature, ultimately residing towards a Unix-like infrastructure.

Operating systems are more about utility and user preference than they were about what apps were available.